The Cleveland Cavaliers fell apart again in crunch time. They’ll head back to Cleveland trailing the Detroit Pistons 0-2.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
31 points, 3 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 turnovers
Well, we’ve been waiting for this.
Mitchell had his best game in weeks, jolting the Cavaliers back to life in the second half. Detroit had Harden in a locker, so the Cavs allowed Mitchell to effectively play point guard during the third quarter. This led to the most
engaged version of Don we’ve seen since Game 2 versus Toronto. He repeatedly attacked the basket for floaters and used his gravity to create opportunities for his teammates.
Late-game execution was the problem. Mitchell suddenly stopped getting to the basket. And once again, Spida became a stationary sidekick as Harden dribbled the ball into oblivion.
Grade: B
James Harden
10 points, 3 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 4 turnovers
This was a total train wreck.
Harden has raised the Cavaliers’ floor this postseason simply by being more available than Darius Garland ever was. And at times, he’s even raised their ceiling by showing glimpses of the player that will one day be in the HOF.
But that light is dwindling, and the last few games have been antithetical to everything that this team built its success on in the past.
Over-dribbling, isolation-heavy basketball has never led to the best version of the Cavs. Yet it’s the only style that Harden plays. He isn’t adapting to playing without the ball in year 17. You win or lose on his terms. The 0-2 deficit speaks for itself.
Grade: F
Evan Mobley
9 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 3 steals, 2 turnovers
Mobley wasn’t involved enough on offense tonight. Part of that is the Pistons shrinking the floor and taking away the roll. Another part was Jarrett Allen had it going — so naturally, more touches went his way.
But Mobley did a fine job of reading the floor in this one. He punished the help defense with his playmaking, dishing 4 assists and narrowly missing on a few other potential assists that didn’t drop.
More so, Mobley was phenomenal on defense. His rim protection and efforts against Jalen Duren are some of the only reasons this game was close in the fourth quarter. We’d like to see him grab more rebounds, but he did spend chunks of time switched onto the perimeter.
Grade: C
Jarrett Allen
22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Allen gave you everything you need to win this one. An efficient 22 points on 9 shot attempts. Competent defense at the point of attack whenever he had to switch. And, a respectable effort on the glass that was only tested when he was left alone to box out multiple players. He’s not going to do much more than this.
Grade: A-
Dean Wade
8 points, 5 rebounds
It’s the same old story. Wade’s defense makes him valuable. But his lack of offensive creation tests how valuable that defense actually is. The Pistons, like the Raptors, have successfully shrunk the floor by ignoring Wade in the corner.
Grade: C–
Max Strus
3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Strus was on fire in Game 1. Not so much in Game 2, shooting just 1-6 from the floor.
This is more or less what you expect from a streaky role player. He gave you a performance worthy of winning. Now you live with the opposite result. The Cavs missed their chance in Game 1.
Grade: D+
Jaylon Tyson
7 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
It feels like Tyson is going to be the X-Factor in this series. The Cavs desperately need someone who can create off the dribble and space the floor next to the core four. Tyson hasn’t gotten a full crack at that yet. But if he does, it could be the thing that finally unlocks Cleveland’s offense.
Grade: B–
Keon Ellis
3 points, 6 minutes
Ellis is going to get opportunities with Merrill out due to a hamstring injury. So far, those minutes haven’t gone well. He’s a defender who loves to gamble, and he isn’t doing enough on offense to replace Merrill’s production.
Grade: D
Dennis Schroder
4 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 turnovers
I don’t know if the Cavs planned on playing Schroder this often in the playoffs. But he’s become a mainstay in the rotation, largely because of how inconsistent the starting backcourt has been. The Cavs have needed an additional ball handler to relieve pressure, and I think Schroder did a fine job of that tonight despite his usual limitations.
Grade: C+
